Eilaf of Quraish and International Trade Agreements: Economic and Diplomatic Significance of CPEC in the Light of Qur’anic Guidance

Abstract

The Qur’an provides timeless guidance not only in matters of faith but also in social, economic, and diplomatic affairs. Surah Quraish highlights the concept of Eilaf, referring to the trade agreements and safe trade routes established by the Quraish with major empires and regions of the time, including Rome, Abyssinia, Egypt, India, and China. This divine reference underlines the importance of secure economic corridors as a blessing of Allah and as a foundation for collective prosperity. Unfortunately, classical exegetical literature often treated Eilaf merely as a historical reference, overlooking its contemporary economic and diplomatic dimensions. This study argues that Eilaf provides an extraordinary Qur’anic precedent for international economic cooperation and strategic trade corridors, which directly parallels modern initiatives such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Today, CPEC represents Pakistan’s backbone for economic growth, connectivity, and regional integration, yet it is shadowed by uncertainty and hesitation. By revisiting the Qur’anic guidance of Eilaf, this paper emphasizes the need for Pakistan to embrace CPEC with vision, confidence, and long-term commitment. It demonstrates that the Qur’an does not isolate faith from worldly progress but offers an integrated framework where economic security, political stability, and spiritual consciousness go hand in hand. The forgotten Qur’anic wisdom of Eilaf is thus strikingly relevant for Pakistan’s current economic challenges, and adopting its model can help ensure that CPEC evolves into a prosperous and unifying trade route, in line with the Qur’anic worldview of collective welfare and gratitude to Allah.